Memories.
M Saturday, April 18, 2009
Here's a quick tour of 2 German cities in 10min or less! Too bad its missing some pictures of much snowy action, which are not posted cuz they involve people decked in green.
Some trivia: Germany, like us, have national service for guys. They have an option to either serve in the military (bundeswehr) for 9mths (3 mths of BMT, 6 months of unit service), or serve in the civil service, that is the government sector, for about 10 to 12 months. Basic pay is around 8+ euros a day, and those in military service get transportation and away-from-home allowances. Which would you choose?
Most vehicles in the deustchland come from 4 local maufacturers: Audi/Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes Benz or Porsche. Even buses and delivery vans are Mercedes. Its also not uncommon to see uncles and Ah Mas cruising by in convertible Audis and Porsches.
Like most countries in the EU, Germany is quite environmentally conscious. Wind power is harnessed in the countrysides, and most trash bins are separated in paper, plastics etc.
See the clouds? This is impending weather for a cold rain, which the next day, would become a semi-snowstorm, covering everything in a sheet of white. We would have found it more beautiful if not for the fact that everyone looked like an actor from Twilight and walking to the latrine through 2 inches of snow felt like a workout.
How often do you pay S$1 to use a toilet?
At highway rest stops, toilets cost 50cents euro to enter. At that price, you would expect mineral water to flow from the taps or TV in the cubicles or something. No such things, but the toilets themselves were quite hotel standard in a way, with water sprays from the toilet bowl after you're done with whatever.
Also, the ticket you get after using the toilet (!) can be used as a discount for anything you want to buy from the adjacent cafe or convenience store, so its actually very wu hua.
Usually, what we have for breakfast every day is similar to this. Cold cut ham, turkey, cheese and bread. Eventually, having Subway every morning gets old. For people that are not me, at least.
Its not cheap to be a driver in Europe these days. With diesel at S$2.24/l and octane-95 at S$2.68, you'll probably think twice before driving to the supermarket for groceries.
This is a famous German entree: pork knuckles. Judging from the size of its trotters, I'm not sure whether its from a pig or a wild boar. Its very filling, makes you feel like a pig afterwards.
Being away from the coast, central Germans don't see the beach often, and instead, this is their beach. On the grassy stretches along the peaceful Main river, families and couples picnic and frolic here every weekend. Combined with the cooling weather and the lazy sunday atmosphere, anyone would forget their troubles just lying there.
Bicycles are as plentiful as cars in Frankfurt, not because they can't afford a car, but because its so much more easier and fun to get around on a bike. Everywhere you will see stretches of bicycles parked, and its not hard to wonder why the air is so clean.
In spring, green is the new in thing for nature, and the city truly becomes a garden.
This is the Orcahrd Rd of Frankfurt, where you can walk and walk and just see shops and more shops. Like Orchard, the area progresses from more affordable goods(like novelty stores, bookshops, Macdonalds and Subway) to the branded stuff...Burberry, Gucci, Birkenstock. Some brands are actually cheaper though, like Addidas and Zara, where you can get a pair of jeans for 20 euros.
No doubt, you'll find this in every city you go. Somewhere to wander to when you're bored at night.
Ice cream is everywhere in Germany, and its something to fall in love with from the first taste. Most vendors have as many flavors as Haagen Daaz has. How many 80cents did I spend on ice cream cones there.
Some trivia: Germany, like us, have national service for guys. They have an option to either serve in the military (bundeswehr) for 9mths (3 mths of BMT, 6 months of unit service), or serve in the civil service, that is the government sector, for about 10 to 12 months. Basic pay is around 8+ euros a day, and those in military service get transportation and away-from-home allowances. Which would you choose?
Most vehicles in the deustchland come from 4 local maufacturers: Audi/Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes Benz or Porsche. Even buses and delivery vans are Mercedes. Its also not uncommon to see uncles and Ah Mas cruising by in convertible Audis and Porsches.
Like most countries in the EU, Germany is quite environmentally conscious. Wind power is harnessed in the countrysides, and most trash bins are separated in paper, plastics etc.
See the clouds? This is impending weather for a cold rain, which the next day, would become a semi-snowstorm, covering everything in a sheet of white. We would have found it more beautiful if not for the fact that everyone looked like an actor from Twilight and walking to the latrine through 2 inches of snow felt like a workout.
How often do you pay S$1 to use a toilet?
At highway rest stops, toilets cost 50cents euro to enter. At that price, you would expect mineral water to flow from the taps or TV in the cubicles or something. No such things, but the toilets themselves were quite hotel standard in a way, with water sprays from the toilet bowl after you're done with whatever.
Also, the ticket you get after using the toilet (!) can be used as a discount for anything you want to buy from the adjacent cafe or convenience store, so its actually very wu hua.
Usually, what we have for breakfast every day is similar to this. Cold cut ham, turkey, cheese and bread. Eventually, having Subway every morning gets old. For people that are not me, at least.
Its not cheap to be a driver in Europe these days. With diesel at S$2.24/l and octane-95 at S$2.68, you'll probably think twice before driving to the supermarket for groceries.
This is a famous German entree: pork knuckles. Judging from the size of its trotters, I'm not sure whether its from a pig or a wild boar. Its very filling, makes you feel like a pig afterwards.
Being away from the coast, central Germans don't see the beach often, and instead, this is their beach. On the grassy stretches along the peaceful Main river, families and couples picnic and frolic here every weekend. Combined with the cooling weather and the lazy sunday atmosphere, anyone would forget their troubles just lying there.
Bicycles are as plentiful as cars in Frankfurt, not because they can't afford a car, but because its so much more easier and fun to get around on a bike. Everywhere you will see stretches of bicycles parked, and its not hard to wonder why the air is so clean.
In spring, green is the new in thing for nature, and the city truly becomes a garden.
This is the Orcahrd Rd of Frankfurt, where you can walk and walk and just see shops and more shops. Like Orchard, the area progresses from more affordable goods(like novelty stores, bookshops, Macdonalds and Subway) to the branded stuff...Burberry, Gucci, Birkenstock. Some brands are actually cheaper though, like Addidas and Zara, where you can get a pair of jeans for 20 euros.
No doubt, you'll find this in every city you go. Somewhere to wander to when you're bored at night.
Buildings like this, the classic Opera House, are few and far between in Germany. In the 1940s, most major cities were flattened by Allied bombing raids, so actual buildings of old German architecture are preserved within the modern city.
A pair of percussionists selling their sound.
During Germany 2006, world cup matches were played on a giant TV platform floated on the Main river, and the the entire sides of the river were lined with watching fans. Whenever their home nation scored, people would jump into the water and party. Wacky stuff.
The church in the background is the most prominent part of central Frankfurt, a place to congregate for the majority Roman Catholics in the city. Mostly, it is a very useful navigation point for tourists, and if not for it, I would probably be confined today for not making it back to the meeting point on time.
European TOTO.
Lazy to walk? Here are some trishaws with a flat fare, for tourists with money to spend.
The view from my hotel room. Guess what it is? A cemetery! Its actually quite beautiful, and the tour guide said its a popular place for young couples to take romantic walks. At night, no less.
Darkness falls a little later in spring, around 8pm due to DST. The guide advised to travel in groups, not alone, and a little later as we roamed the empty streets, we found out that to be good advice. A few times we would cross paths with drinking teens (in the middle of the walkway!) or hooded strangers, and it just felt safer knowing you're infantry-trained.
Are you a millionaire? Get one of these waterfront mansions.
It doesnt look like it, but this is a university. One of Germany's oldest in fact, from the 1600s(I think). The campus itself has a Harry Potter feel to it, with all the olde shops and pubs built around the institution.
This is how the a King's view from a castle looks like. All buildings look the same don't they? Exactly my thoughts as the plane was descending.
This fort tower took a cannon hit a few centuries ago and has never recovered since then.
The best souvenirs you can get from Europe are handmade novelties, like these.
A school band rehearsing. See the girl staring at me?
Note the statue of the Virgin Mary in the background. Its a beautiful classic symbol of the city's roman catholic roots.
A talented young busker, probably not older than 12 or 13. Wei Xiang, you also can de!
Ice cream is everywhere in Germany, and its something to fall in love with from the first taste. Most vendors have as many flavors as Haagen Daaz has. How many 80cents did I spend on ice cream cones there.Aaaand...that's all folks! When you guys go overseas, take more pictures too yea!
>> blast it 4:05 PM
